'Begin,' said he, after a pause, 'begin, "This splendid pack had a stunning run."'
'But we must put what pack first,' observed Sponge, writing the words 'Mr. Puffington's hounds' at the top of the paper. 'Well,' said he, writing on, 'this stunning pack had a splendid run.'
'No, not stunning pack,' growled Jack, 'splendid pack—"this splendid pack had a stunning run."'
'Stop!' exclaimed Sponge, writing it down; 'well,' said he looking up, 'I've got it.'
'This stunning pack had a splendid run,' repeated Jack, squinting away at the ceiling.
'I thought you said splendid pack,' observed Sponge.
'So I did,' replied Jack.
'You said stunning just now,' rejoined he.
'Ah, that was a slip of the tongue,' said Jack. 'This splendid pack had a stunning run,' repeated Jack, appealing again to his cigar for inspiration; 'well, then,' said he, after a pause, 'you just go on as usual, you know,' continued he, with a flourish of his great red hand.
'As usual!' exclaimed Sponge, 'you don't s'pose one's pen goes of itself.'